Great Falls, MT vs Tampa, FL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Tampa, FL has a modeled overall cost index 13.0% higher than Great Falls, MT.

Great Falls, MT · modeled 2BR rent: $1,290 / month
Tampa, FL · modeled 2BR rent: $2,290 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓

Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Great Falls, MT and Tampa, FL using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Great Falls, MT

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $321/month in Tampa, FL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $153,847 in Tampa, FL

Regional cost estimates: Great Falls, MT uses Spokane, WA. Tampa, FL uses Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 13.0%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$321

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$3.8K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Great Falls, MT

Population:60K

Cost Index:

91.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$317K

Tampa, FL

Population:385K

Cost Index:

103.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$367K

Planning the move to Tampa?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Great Falls, MT

The Treasure State

60K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Montana, this city has a population of 60K residents.

Tampa, FL

The Sunshine State

385K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Climate

Humid subtropical

Notable Facts

•Major Tampa Bay area
•No state income tax
•Growing tech scene

Major Industries

FinanceTechnologyHealthcareTourism

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Great Falls, MT vs Tampa, FL

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Great Falls, MT	Tampa, FL	Difference	Change
Housing	$1,963/mo	$2,656/mo	↑ $693more	35.3%
Transportation	$1,790/mo	$1,262/mo	↓ $528less	29.5%
Other	$1,452/mo	$1,777/mo	↑ $325more	22.4%
Healthcare	$793/mo	$560/mo	↓ $233less	29.4%
All Utilities	$463/mo	$564/mo	↑ $101more	21.8%
Groceries	$1,039/mo	$1,002/mo	↓ $37.17less	3.6%

Housing

↑ 35.3%

Great Falls, MT

$1,963

Tampa, FL

$2,656

Difference

$693

Transportation

↓ 29.5%

Great Falls, MT

$1,790

Tampa, FL

$1,262

Difference

$528

less

Other

↑ 22.4%

Great Falls, MT

$1,452

Tampa, FL

$1,777

Difference

$325

Healthcare

↓ 29.4%

Great Falls, MT

$793

Tampa, FL

$560

Difference

$233

less

All Utilities

↑ 21.8%

Great Falls, MT

$463

Tampa, FL

$564

Difference

$101

Groceries

↓ 3.6%

Great Falls, MT

$1,039

Tampa, FL

$1,002

Difference

$37.17

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$960

To$1,850

↑ $890

1 Bed

From$980

To$1,960

↑ $980

2 Bed

From$1,290

To$2,290

↑ $1,000

3 Bed

From$1,790

To$2,930

↑ $1,140

Great Falls, MTZIP-level data

1BR range: $860–$1,090/mo

Tampa, FLZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,410–$2,550/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Great Falls, MT

$7,821

Monthly in Tampa, FL

$321

Difference

Home Values

Great Falls

Tampa

$317K

Median Value

$367K

↑ +4.8%

YoY Change

↓ -4%

↑ +59%

5-Year Change

↑ +42.1%

$279K - $380K

Price Range

$251K - $989K

Homes in Tampa are 16% more expensive than Great Falls

Calculate payment - Great Falls Calculate payment - Tampa

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $9.6K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$797

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

6.4%

Rate difference

Great Falls, MT

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Montana State Tax

Effective: 6.4%

$9.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.1%

$46.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,618/month

$103.4K

Tampa, FL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Florida State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Great Falls, MT Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%

Property Tax:0.8%

Tampa, FL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Great Falls, MT: No data yet

Tampa, FL

28/100

4.5% sidewalk tags · 6.6% cycling tags

Environment

Great Falls

Tampa

38 Good

Air Quality

50 Good

76.5%

Good Air Days

52.5%

90 Moderate

Climate Risk

99 High

💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌅🌀

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

23 days

Heat Days >95°F

38 days

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

23 days

Heat Days >95°F

38 days

Before moving from Great Falls, MT to Tampa, FL

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Tampa, FL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Great Falls, MT. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Great Falls to Tampa moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Tampa, FL by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Great Falls, MT vs Tampa, FL

How do the cost estimates for Great Falls, MT and Tampa, FL compare?

Tampa, FL has a modeled overall cost index 13.0% higher than Great Falls, MT. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Great Falls, MT, the model estimates $153,847 in Tampa, FL. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Great Falls, MT and Tampa, FL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,290/month in Great Falls, MT and $2,290/month in Tampa, FL. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Montana and Florida on TaxTakeHome.com